Thiruvananthapuram, May 19 (PTI) Applications of space-based services should be used by government agencies and departments for betterment of administration and society, Kerala Tourism and Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said today.

Inaugurating a national workshop on Space Applications for Sustainable Growth and Advancement (SAGA 2017), he said technology becomes meaningful only when it is people-centric and helps improve the life of the common man.

The minister said the development is meaningful only if it is sustainable and bringing sustainable development requires prudent planning with a futuristic vision.

“The role of government agencies in utilising the valuable services provided by the organisations like ISRO is significant. There are several such agencies that utilise applications of space-based services to improve administration and for betterment of society,” he said.

Stating that there are a variety of areas where ISRO’s services can be utilised, he said the space agency’s geographical information system applications, its geo portal ‘Bhuvan’ and ‘Edusat’, the satellite dedicated exclusively for educational purposes, improved the lives of the common man.

VSSC director K Sivan and additional chief secretary V S Senthil were among those who attended.